As the Vatican battles with the swirling tornado of clerical sexual abuse crises, the Holy See has confirmed that an investigation is taking place into financial irregularity in the Sistine Chapel Choir. The news was greeted in Rome with a strange sort of relief. Finally, the news agenda was moving on to more familiar scandal territory.

Pope Francis, the Holy See press office explained in a short statement, had ordered an inquiry into “the economic-administrative aspects” of his choir some months ago. Italian media reported that the allegations included money laundering, fraud and embezzlement, with the choir’s administrator, Michelangelo Nardella, the central person of interest. He has been suspended from his position.